US20240199260A1 - Sealing device for a packaging machine, packaging machine having a sealing device and method of operating a sealing device - Google Patents
Sealing device for a packaging machine, packaging machine having a sealing device and method of operating a sealing device Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US20240199260A1 US20240199260A1 US18/553,665 US202218553665A US2024199260A1 US 20240199260 A1 US20240199260 A1 US 20240199260A1 US 202218553665 A US202218553665 A US 202218553665A US 2024199260 A1 US2024199260 A1 US 2024199260A1
- Authority
- US
- United States
- Prior art keywords
- piezoelectric transducer
- sealing device
- temperature
- transducer devices
- sealing
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Pending
Links
- 238000007789 sealing Methods 0.000 title claims abstract description 105
- 238000004806 packaging method and process Methods 0.000 title claims abstract description 31
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 title claims description 12
- 238000012544 monitoring process Methods 0.000 claims abstract description 5
- 229910052751 metal Inorganic materials 0.000 claims description 16
- 239000002184 metal Substances 0.000 claims description 16
- 230000032683 aging Effects 0.000 claims description 9
- 238000012423 maintenance Methods 0.000 claims description 9
- 230000001681 protective effect Effects 0.000 claims description 7
- RYGMFSIKBFXOCR-UHFFFAOYSA-N Copper Chemical compound [Cu] RYGMFSIKBFXOCR-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims description 3
- 229910052802 copper Inorganic materials 0.000 claims description 3
- 239000010949 copper Substances 0.000 claims description 3
- 239000000463 material Substances 0.000 description 15
- 239000005022 packaging material Substances 0.000 description 12
- 239000004033 plastic Substances 0.000 description 12
- 229920003023 plastic Polymers 0.000 description 12
- 235000013305 food Nutrition 0.000 description 7
- 230000000712 assembly Effects 0.000 description 6
- 238000000429 assembly Methods 0.000 description 6
- 239000002131 composite material Substances 0.000 description 5
- 230000001954 sterilising effect Effects 0.000 description 5
- 230000000694 effects Effects 0.000 description 4
- 239000002657 fibrous material Substances 0.000 description 4
- 238000010438 heat treatment Methods 0.000 description 4
- 238000002955 isolation Methods 0.000 description 4
- 230000002547 anomalous effect Effects 0.000 description 3
- 230000008878 coupling Effects 0.000 description 3
- 238000010168 coupling process Methods 0.000 description 3
- 238000005859 coupling reaction Methods 0.000 description 3
- 239000000543 intermediate Substances 0.000 description 3
- 238000004659 sterilization and disinfection Methods 0.000 description 3
- 241000227653 Lycopersicon Species 0.000 description 2
- 235000007688 Lycopersicon esculentum Nutrition 0.000 description 2
- 239000004698 Polyethylene Substances 0.000 description 2
- 229910052782 aluminium Inorganic materials 0.000 description 2
- XAGFODPZIPBFFR-UHFFFAOYSA-N aluminium Chemical compound [Al] XAGFODPZIPBFFR-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 2
- 230000001419 dependent effect Effects 0.000 description 2
- 239000011888 foil Substances 0.000 description 2
- 235000015203 fruit juice Nutrition 0.000 description 2
- 235000013336 milk Nutrition 0.000 description 2
- 239000008267 milk Substances 0.000 description 2
- 210000004080 milk Anatomy 0.000 description 2
- -1 polyethylene Polymers 0.000 description 2
- 229920000573 polyethylene Polymers 0.000 description 2
- 235000015067 sauces Nutrition 0.000 description 2
- 235000014101 wine Nutrition 0.000 description 2
- 230000005540 biological transmission Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000011111 cardboard Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000000919 ceramic Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000007423 decrease Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000004715 ethylene vinyl alcohol Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000017525 heat dissipation Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000007788 liquid Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000005259 measurement Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000002844 melting Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000008018 melting Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000000116 mitigating effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000000123 paper Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000011087 paperboard Substances 0.000 description 1
- 150000003839 salts Chemical class 0.000 description 1
- 238000007493 shaping process Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000002604 ultrasonography Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000011144 upstream manufacturing Methods 0.000 description 1
Images
Classifications
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
- B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
- B29C65/00—Joining or sealing of preformed parts, e.g. welding of plastics materials; Apparatus therefor
- B29C65/02—Joining or sealing of preformed parts, e.g. welding of plastics materials; Apparatus therefor by heating, with or without pressure
- B29C65/08—Joining or sealing of preformed parts, e.g. welding of plastics materials; Apparatus therefor by heating, with or without pressure using ultrasonic vibrations
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B06—GENERATING OR TRANSMITTING MECHANICAL VIBRATIONS IN GENERAL
- B06B—METHODS OR APPARATUS FOR GENERATING OR TRANSMITTING MECHANICAL VIBRATIONS OF INFRASONIC, SONIC, OR ULTRASONIC FREQUENCY, e.g. FOR PERFORMING MECHANICAL WORK IN GENERAL
- B06B1/00—Methods or apparatus for generating mechanical vibrations of infrasonic, sonic, or ultrasonic frequency
- B06B1/02—Methods or apparatus for generating mechanical vibrations of infrasonic, sonic, or ultrasonic frequency making use of electrical energy
- B06B1/06—Methods or apparatus for generating mechanical vibrations of infrasonic, sonic, or ultrasonic frequency making use of electrical energy operating with piezoelectric effect or with electrostriction
- B06B1/0607—Methods or apparatus for generating mechanical vibrations of infrasonic, sonic, or ultrasonic frequency making use of electrical energy operating with piezoelectric effect or with electrostriction using multiple elements
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B06—GENERATING OR TRANSMITTING MECHANICAL VIBRATIONS IN GENERAL
- B06B—METHODS OR APPARATUS FOR GENERATING OR TRANSMITTING MECHANICAL VIBRATIONS OF INFRASONIC, SONIC, OR ULTRASONIC FREQUENCY, e.g. FOR PERFORMING MECHANICAL WORK IN GENERAL
- B06B3/00—Methods or apparatus specially adapted for transmitting mechanical vibrations of infrasonic, sonic, or ultrasonic frequency
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B06—GENERATING OR TRANSMITTING MECHANICAL VIBRATIONS IN GENERAL
- B06B—METHODS OR APPARATUS FOR GENERATING OR TRANSMITTING MECHANICAL VIBRATIONS OF INFRASONIC, SONIC, OR ULTRASONIC FREQUENCY, e.g. FOR PERFORMING MECHANICAL WORK IN GENERAL
- B06B3/00—Methods or apparatus specially adapted for transmitting mechanical vibrations of infrasonic, sonic, or ultrasonic frequency
- B06B3/02—Methods or apparatus specially adapted for transmitting mechanical vibrations of infrasonic, sonic, or ultrasonic frequency involving a change of amplitude
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
- B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
- B29C65/00—Joining or sealing of preformed parts, e.g. welding of plastics materials; Apparatus therefor
- B29C65/74—Joining or sealing of preformed parts, e.g. welding of plastics materials; Apparatus therefor by welding and severing, or by joining and severing, the severing being performed in the area to be joined, next to the area to be joined, in the joint area or next to the joint area
- B29C65/745—Joining or sealing of preformed parts, e.g. welding of plastics materials; Apparatus therefor by welding and severing, or by joining and severing, the severing being performed in the area to be joined, next to the area to be joined, in the joint area or next to the joint area using a single unit having both a severing tool and a welding tool
- B29C65/7451—Joining or sealing of preformed parts, e.g. welding of plastics materials; Apparatus therefor by welding and severing, or by joining and severing, the severing being performed in the area to be joined, next to the area to be joined, in the joint area or next to the joint area using a single unit having both a severing tool and a welding tool the severing tool and the welding tool being movable with respect to one-another
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
- B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
- B29C66/00—General aspects of processes or apparatus for joining preformed parts
- B29C66/01—General aspects dealing with the joint area or with the area to be joined
- B29C66/05—Particular design of joint configurations
- B29C66/10—Particular design of joint configurations particular design of the joint cross-sections
- B29C66/11—Joint cross-sections comprising a single joint-segment, i.e. one of the parts to be joined comprising a single joint-segment in the joint cross-section
- B29C66/112—Single lapped joints
- B29C66/1122—Single lap to lap joints, i.e. overlap joints
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
- B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
- B29C66/00—General aspects of processes or apparatus for joining preformed parts
- B29C66/40—General aspects of joining substantially flat articles, e.g. plates, sheets or web-like materials; Making flat seams in tubular or hollow articles; Joining single elements to substantially flat surfaces
- B29C66/41—Joining substantially flat articles ; Making flat seams in tubular or hollow articles
- B29C66/43—Joining a relatively small portion of the surface of said articles
- B29C66/431—Joining the articles to themselves
- B29C66/4312—Joining the articles to themselves for making flat seams in tubular or hollow articles, e.g. transversal seams
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
- B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
- B29C66/00—General aspects of processes or apparatus for joining preformed parts
- B29C66/70—General aspects of processes or apparatus for joining preformed parts characterised by the composition, physical properties or the structure of the material of the parts to be joined; Joining with non-plastics material
- B29C66/71—General aspects of processes or apparatus for joining preformed parts characterised by the composition, physical properties or the structure of the material of the parts to be joined; Joining with non-plastics material characterised by the composition of the plastics material of the parts to be joined
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
- B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
- B29C66/00—General aspects of processes or apparatus for joining preformed parts
- B29C66/70—General aspects of processes or apparatus for joining preformed parts characterised by the composition, physical properties or the structure of the material of the parts to be joined; Joining with non-plastics material
- B29C66/72—General aspects of processes or apparatus for joining preformed parts characterised by the composition, physical properties or the structure of the material of the parts to be joined; Joining with non-plastics material characterised by the structure of the material of the parts to be joined
- B29C66/723—General aspects of processes or apparatus for joining preformed parts characterised by the composition, physical properties or the structure of the material of the parts to be joined; Joining with non-plastics material characterised by the structure of the material of the parts to be joined being multi-layered
- B29C66/7232—General aspects of processes or apparatus for joining preformed parts characterised by the composition, physical properties or the structure of the material of the parts to be joined; Joining with non-plastics material characterised by the structure of the material of the parts to be joined being multi-layered comprising a non-plastics layer
- B29C66/72321—General aspects of processes or apparatus for joining preformed parts characterised by the composition, physical properties or the structure of the material of the parts to be joined; Joining with non-plastics material characterised by the structure of the material of the parts to be joined being multi-layered comprising a non-plastics layer consisting of metals or their alloys
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
- B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
- B29C66/00—General aspects of processes or apparatus for joining preformed parts
- B29C66/70—General aspects of processes or apparatus for joining preformed parts characterised by the composition, physical properties or the structure of the material of the parts to be joined; Joining with non-plastics material
- B29C66/72—General aspects of processes or apparatus for joining preformed parts characterised by the composition, physical properties or the structure of the material of the parts to be joined; Joining with non-plastics material characterised by the structure of the material of the parts to be joined
- B29C66/723—General aspects of processes or apparatus for joining preformed parts characterised by the composition, physical properties or the structure of the material of the parts to be joined; Joining with non-plastics material characterised by the structure of the material of the parts to be joined being multi-layered
- B29C66/7232—General aspects of processes or apparatus for joining preformed parts characterised by the composition, physical properties or the structure of the material of the parts to be joined; Joining with non-plastics material characterised by the structure of the material of the parts to be joined being multi-layered comprising a non-plastics layer
- B29C66/72327—General aspects of processes or apparatus for joining preformed parts characterised by the composition, physical properties or the structure of the material of the parts to be joined; Joining with non-plastics material characterised by the structure of the material of the parts to be joined being multi-layered comprising a non-plastics layer consisting of natural products or their composites, not provided for in B29C66/72321 - B29C66/72324
- B29C66/72328—Paper
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
- B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
- B29C66/00—General aspects of processes or apparatus for joining preformed parts
- B29C66/70—General aspects of processes or apparatus for joining preformed parts characterised by the composition, physical properties or the structure of the material of the parts to be joined; Joining with non-plastics material
- B29C66/73—General aspects of processes or apparatus for joining preformed parts characterised by the composition, physical properties or the structure of the material of the parts to be joined; Joining with non-plastics material characterised by the intensive physical properties of the material of the parts to be joined, by the optical properties of the material of the parts to be joined, by the extensive physical properties of the parts to be joined, by the state of the material of the parts to be joined or by the material of the parts to be joined being a thermoplastic or a thermoset
- B29C66/739—General aspects of processes or apparatus for joining preformed parts characterised by the composition, physical properties or the structure of the material of the parts to be joined; Joining with non-plastics material characterised by the intensive physical properties of the material of the parts to be joined, by the optical properties of the material of the parts to be joined, by the extensive physical properties of the parts to be joined, by the state of the material of the parts to be joined or by the material of the parts to be joined being a thermoplastic or a thermoset characterised by the material of the parts to be joined being a thermoplastic or a thermoset
- B29C66/7392—General aspects of processes or apparatus for joining preformed parts characterised by the composition, physical properties or the structure of the material of the parts to be joined; Joining with non-plastics material characterised by the intensive physical properties of the material of the parts to be joined, by the optical properties of the material of the parts to be joined, by the extensive physical properties of the parts to be joined, by the state of the material of the parts to be joined or by the material of the parts to be joined being a thermoplastic or a thermoset characterised by the material of the parts to be joined being a thermoplastic or a thermoset characterised by the material of at least one of the parts being a thermoplastic
- B29C66/73921—General aspects of processes or apparatus for joining preformed parts characterised by the composition, physical properties or the structure of the material of the parts to be joined; Joining with non-plastics material characterised by the intensive physical properties of the material of the parts to be joined, by the optical properties of the material of the parts to be joined, by the extensive physical properties of the parts to be joined, by the state of the material of the parts to be joined or by the material of the parts to be joined being a thermoplastic or a thermoset characterised by the material of the parts to be joined being a thermoplastic or a thermoset characterised by the material of at least one of the parts being a thermoplastic characterised by the materials of both parts being thermoplastics
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
- B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
- B29C66/00—General aspects of processes or apparatus for joining preformed parts
- B29C66/80—General aspects of machine operations or constructions and parts thereof
- B29C66/83—General aspects of machine operations or constructions and parts thereof characterised by the movement of the joining or pressing tools
- B29C66/834—General aspects of machine operations or constructions and parts thereof characterised by the movement of the joining or pressing tools moving with the parts to be joined
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
- B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
- B29C66/00—General aspects of processes or apparatus for joining preformed parts
- B29C66/90—Measuring or controlling the joining process
- B29C66/91—Measuring or controlling the joining process by measuring or controlling the temperature, the heat or the thermal flux
- B29C66/912—Measuring or controlling the joining process by measuring or controlling the temperature, the heat or the thermal flux by measuring the temperature, the heat or the thermal flux
- B29C66/9121—Measuring or controlling the joining process by measuring or controlling the temperature, the heat or the thermal flux by measuring the temperature, the heat or the thermal flux by measuring the temperature
- B29C66/91231—Measuring or controlling the joining process by measuring or controlling the temperature, the heat or the thermal flux by measuring the temperature, the heat or the thermal flux by measuring the temperature of the joining tool
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
- B65B51/00—Devices for, or methods of, sealing or securing package folds or closures; Devices for gathering or twisting wrappers, or necks of bags
- B65B51/10—Applying or generating heat or pressure or combinations thereof
- B65B51/22—Applying or generating heat or pressure or combinations thereof by friction or ultrasonic or high-frequency electrical means, i.e. by friction or ultrasonic or induction welding
- B65B51/225—Applying or generating heat or pressure or combinations thereof by friction or ultrasonic or high-frequency electrical means, i.e. by friction or ultrasonic or induction welding by ultrasonic welding
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
- B65B51/00—Devices for, or methods of, sealing or securing package folds or closures; Devices for gathering or twisting wrappers, or necks of bags
- B65B51/10—Applying or generating heat or pressure or combinations thereof
- B65B51/26—Devices specially adapted for producing transverse or longitudinal seams in webs or tubes
- B65B51/30—Devices, e.g. jaws, for applying pressure and heat, e.g. for subdividing filled tubes
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
- B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
- B29C65/00—Joining or sealing of preformed parts, e.g. welding of plastics materials; Apparatus therefor
- B29C65/78—Means for handling the parts to be joined, e.g. for making containers or hollow articles, e.g. means for handling sheets, plates, web-like materials, tubular articles, hollow articles or elements to be joined therewith; Means for discharging the joined articles from the joining apparatus
- B29C65/7858—Means for handling the parts to be joined, e.g. for making containers or hollow articles, e.g. means for handling sheets, plates, web-like materials, tubular articles, hollow articles or elements to be joined therewith; Means for discharging the joined articles from the joining apparatus characterised by the feeding movement of the parts to be joined
- B29C65/7888—Means for handling of moving sheets or webs
- B29C65/7894—Means for handling of moving sheets or webs of continuously moving sheets or webs
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
- B29L—INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASS B29C, RELATING TO PARTICULAR ARTICLES
- B29L2031/00—Other particular articles
- B29L2031/712—Containers; Packaging elements or accessories, Packages
- B29L2031/7162—Boxes, cartons, cases
- B29L2031/7166—Cartons of the fruit juice or milk type, i.e. containers of polygonal cross sections formed by folding blanks into a tubular body with end-closing or contents-supporting elements, e.g. gable type containers
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
- B65B51/00—Devices for, or methods of, sealing or securing package folds or closures; Devices for gathering or twisting wrappers, or necks of bags
- B65B51/10—Applying or generating heat or pressure or combinations thereof
- B65B2051/105—Heat seal temperature control
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
- B65B9/00—Enclosing successive articles, or quantities of material, e.g. liquids or semiliquids, in flat, folded, or tubular webs of flexible sheet material; Subdividing filled flexible tubes to form packages
- B65B9/10—Enclosing successive articles, or quantities of material, in preformed tubular webs, or in webs formed into tubes around filling nozzles, e.g. extruded tubular webs
- B65B9/20—Enclosing successive articles, or quantities of material, in preformed tubular webs, or in webs formed into tubes around filling nozzles, e.g. extruded tubular webs the webs being formed into tubes in situ around the filling nozzles
Definitions
- the present invention relates to a sealing device for the sealing, in particular the transversal sealing, of packages, in particular composite packages, within a packaging machine for the packaging of pourable products, in particular pourable food products.
- the present invention also relates to a packaging machine for the packaging of pourable products, in particular pourable food products, into packages, in particular composite packages, and having at least one sealing device for the sealing of packages.
- the present invention also relates to a method of operating a sealing device within a packaging machine for the packaging of pourable products, in particular pourable food products, into packages, in particular composite packages.
- liquid or pourable food products such as fruit juice, UHT (ultra-high-temperature treated) milk, wine, tomato sauce, etc.
- packages in particular sealed packages, made of sterilized packaging material.
- a typical example is the parallelepiped-shaped package for pourable food products known as Tetra Brik Aseptic (registered trademark), which is made by sealing and folding a laminated strip packaging material.
- the packaging material has a multilayer structure comprising a carton and/or paper base layer, covered on both sides with layers of heat-seal plastic material, e.g. polyethylene.
- the packaging material also comprises a layer of oxygen-barrier material, e.g. an aluminum foil, which is superimposed on a layer of heat-seal plastic material, and is in turn covered with another layer of heat-seal plastic material forming the inner face of the package eventually contacting the food product.
- Packages of this sort are normally produced on fully automatic packaging machines, which, in use, advance a web of packaging material through a sterilization unit of the packaging machine for sterilizing the web of packaging material. Then, the sterilized web of packaging material is maintained and advanced within an isolation chamber, and is folded and sealed longitudinally to form a tube, which is further advanced. Furthermore, the tube is filled with a pourable product, and is transversally sealed and cut along equally spaced transversal cross sections within a package forming apparatus of the packaging machine during the tube's advancement.
- the package forming apparatus comprises a plurality of forming and sealing assemblies, each one, in use, shaping and transversally sealing and cutting the tube so as to obtain the single packages.
- Each forming and sealing assembly comprises a respective sealing device for transversally sealing the tube for obtaining a respective transversal seal portion by locally compressing the tube and heating the respective portions of the layers of heat-seal plastic material.
- the heating may e.g. occur by sealing devices generating ultrasonic vibrations.
- the sealing devices which heat by means of ultrasound vibrations comprise a sonotrode configured to generate the ultrasonic vibrations and an anvil, which is designed to cooperate with the sonotrode so as to locally compress the tube.
- a typical sonotrode comprises a sonotrode head having a sealing surface extending along a longitudinal axis and a vibration control unit connected to the sonotrode head and configured to actuate ultrasonic vibrations of the sonotrode head.
- the vibration control unit comprises a housing shell and one or more piezoelectric transducers arranged within the housing shell and configured to generate ultrasonic vibrations to be coupled into the sonotrode head.
- piezoelectric transducers have a limited lifetime as being subjected to an aging and, thus, the sonotrode as a whole or at least the piezoelectric transducers must be exchanged according to pre-established maintenance protocols.
- FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a packaging machine having at least one sealing device according to the present invention, with parts removed for clarity;
- FIG. 2 is a schematic view of a detail of the packaging machine of FIG. 1 comprising portions of the sealing device according to the present invention, with parts removed for clarity;
- FIG. 3 is a side view of a portion of the sealing device of FIG. 2 , with parts removed for clarity;
- FIG. 4 is an enlarged perspective view of the portion of FIG. 3 , with parts removed for clarity;
- FIG. 5 is a side view of a portion of the sealing device of FIG. 2 according to one or more embodiments, with parts removed for clarity. 15
- Number 1 indicates as a whole a packaging machine for producing sealed packages 2 of a pourable product, in particular a pourable food product, such as (pasteurized) milk, fruit juice, wine, tomato sauce, salt, sugar etc.
- a pourable food product such as (pasteurized) milk, fruit juice, wine, tomato sauce, salt, sugar etc.
- packaging machine 1 may be configured to produce composite packages 2 from a composite multilayer packaging material.
- the packaging material may comprise at least one layer of fibrous material, such as e.g. a paper or cardboard, and at least two layers of heat-seal plastic material, e.g. polyethylene, interposing the layer of fibrous material in between one another.
- fibrous material such as e.g. a paper or cardboard
- heat-seal plastic material e.g. polyethylene
- the packaging material may also comprise a layer of gas- and light-barrier material, e.g. aluminum foil or ethylene vinyl alcohol (EVOH) film, in particular being arranged between one of the layers of the heat-seal plastic material and the layer of fibrous material.
- the packaging material may also comprise a further layer of heat-seal plastic material being interposed between the layer of gas- and light-barrier material and the layer of fibrous material.
- the packaging material may be provided in the form of a web 3 .
- packaging machine 1 may be configured to produce packages 2 by forming a tube 4 from web 3 , longitudinally sealing tube 4 , filling tube 4 with the pourable product and to transversally seal and cut tube 4 .
- a typical package 2 obtained by packaging machine 1 comprises a longitudinal seam portion 5 and a pair of a respective first transversal sealing band and a respective second transversal sealing band, in particular arranged at opposite sides of package 2 .
- the first transversal sealing band may define a transversal top sealing band and the second transversal sealing band may define a transversal bottom sealing band.
- packaging machine 1 may comprise:
- packaging machine 1 may also comprise a sterilizing unit configured to sterilize the, in use, advancing web 3 at a sterilization station, in particular the sterilization station being arranged upstream of forming station 8 along web advancement path P.
- conveying device 7 may be configured to advance tube 4 and any intermediates of tube 4 along a tube advancement path Q, in particular from forming station 9 to package forming unit 16 .
- any configuration of web 3 is meant prior to obtaining the tube structure and after folding of web 3 by tube forming and sealing device 10 has started.
- the intermediates of tube 4 are a result of the gradual folding of web 3 so as to obtain tube 4 , in particular by overlapping the edges of web 3 with one another.
- tube forming and sealing device 10 may be arranged such that tube 4 may present a vertical orientation.
- tube forming and sealing device 10 may comprise at least two forming ring assemblies 16 , in particular arranged within isolation chamber 9 , being configured to gradually fold in cooperation with one another web 3 into tube 4 , in particular by overlapping the edges of web 3 with one another. Thereby, in use, seam portion 5 of tube 3 is formed.
- tube forming and sealing device 10 may also comprise a pressuring assembly configured to exert a mechanical force on seam portion 5 so as to ensure sealing of tube 4 along seam portion 5 .
- filling device 11 may comprise a filling pipe 18 being configured to direct, in use, the pourable product into tube 4 .
- filling pipe 18 may, in use, be at least partially placed within tube 4 for feeding, in use, the pourable product into tube 4 .
- package forming apparatus 12 may comprise:
- package forming apparatus 12 is configured to control forming and sealing assemblies 19 and the conveying unit such to transversally seal and cut tube 4 along equally spaced transversal cross sections.
- each forming and sealing assembly 19 may comprise:
- each forming and sealing assembly 19 may comprise a cutting device (not shown) for transversally cutting tube 4 .
- each sealing device 20 is configured to form a main sealing band and the respective cutting device is configured to transversally cut through the main sealing band.
- each main sealing band combines the respective first transversal sealing band of a leading package 2 and the respective second transversal sealing band of the successive package 2 .
- each forming shell may comprise at least a first half-shell (not shown and known as such) and a second half-shell (not shown and known as such) configured to at least partially define in cooperation the shape of packages 2 .
- first half-shell and the second half-shell are configured to contact tube 4 from opposite sides thereof.
- each sealing device 20 is of the ultrasonic type; i.e. sealing device 20 is configured to generate ultrasonic vibrations suited to heat portions of the layers of heat-seal plastic material.
- each sealing device 20 may comprise at least:
- each cutting device comprises at least one moveable blade so as to transversally cut tube 4 .
- each sonotrode 21 is associated to one respective first half-shell, in particular defining a first operative portion of the respective forming and sealing assembly 19
- each anvil 22 is associated to one respective second half-shell, in particular defining a second operative portion of the respective forming and sealing assembly 19 .
- each cutting device is associated to the respective sonotrode 21 or to the respective anvil 22 , in the specific case the respective anvil 22 .
- each cutting device is either associated to the respective first operative portion or the respective second operative portion, in the specific case shown to the respective second operative portion.
- the conveying unit may be configured to advance the respective first operative portions along a first path and the respective second operative portions along a second path.
- each first operative portion and the respective second operative portion may be configured to cooperate with one another for forming a package 2 when advancing along a respective operative section of the first path and the second path, respectively.
- each sonotrode 21 comprises at least:
- each sealing surface 24 may be designed to contact tube 4 and to establish an operative connection with the portions of the layers of heat-seal plastic material.
- each sealing surface 24 may comprise a first portion 26 and a second portion 27 displaced from and being parallel to one another.
- each sonotrode head 23 may comprise a groove 28 , in particular interposed between the respective first portion 26 and the respective second portion 27 .
- each groove 28 is designed to receive a portion of the respective blade during the transversal cutting of tube 4 .
- each vibration control unit 25 may comprise one or more piezoelectric transducer devices 35 (shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 ) configured to generate the ultrasonic vibrations to be coupled into the respective sonotrode head 23 .
- vibration control unit 25 comprises three piezoelectric transducer devices 35 , however, the number may vary in dependence of the format of packages 2 ; i.e. in dependence of the format of packages 2 , the extension of sealing surface 24 may be larger or shorter; in particular a shorter sealing surface 24 may require less piezoelectric transducer devices 35 than a larger one.
- each vibration control unit 25 may comprise one or more temperature sensors 36 configured to (directly or indirectly) measure the temperature of piezoelectric transducer (s) 35 for determining and/or controlling respective operating states of piezoelectric transducer (s) 35 .
- each piezoelectric transducer device 35 is indicative about operating characteristics of the piezoelectric transducer device 35 and/or about the aging of the piezoelectric transducer device 35 and/or about the remaining lifetime of the piezoelectric transducer device 35 .
- the Applicant has found that each piezoelectric transducer device 35 degrades with time as a result of its operation leading to an increase of heat dissipation during use.
- temperature sensor (s) 36 is/are configured to continuously and/or in real time measure the temperature of piezoelectric transducer (s) 35 . In particular, so as to continuously and/or in real time determine and/or monitor the operational states of piezoelectric transducer (s) 35 .
- At least one temperature sensor 36 is associated to each piezoelectric transducer device 35 so as to measure the respective temperature and so as to allow for the determination and/or monitoring of the operational state(s) of the respective piezoelectric transducer device 35 .
- each temperature sensor 36 is connected to the respective piezoelectric transducer device 35 so as to (directly) measure the respective temperature.
- each temperature sensor 36 could determine the respective temperature in non-contact mode.
- each temperature sensor 35 may be a thermistor; i.e. the temperature determined by temperature sensor 35 results from a variation of the resistance of temperature sensor 36 .
- each temperature sensor 35 may be a negative temperature coefficient (NTC) thermistor (i.e. the resistance decreases with increasing temperature) or a positive temperature coefficient (PTC) thermistor (i.e. the resistance increases with increasing temperature).
- NTC negative temperature coefficient
- PTC positive temperature coefficient
- thermosensors 35 have a preciseness lying by about +/ ⁇ 0,5° C. Thus, such a preciseness is limited with respect to other types of temperature sensors.
- the Applicant has, however, found that the preciseness offered by thermistors, in particular NTC thermistors and PTC thermistors, is sufficient SO as to determine and/or monitor the operational states of piezoelectric transducer devices 35 .
- thermistors in particular NTC thermistors and PTC thermistors, it is possible to obtain a more economical solution with respect to other types of temperature sensors, which are more costly, but still reliably determining the operational states of piezoelectric transducer devices 35 .
- each piezoelectric transducer device 35 may comprise a plurality of piezoelectric (ceramic) elements 37 stacked one on top of one another.
- each piezoelectric transducer device 35 may also comprise a plurality of conductive metal sheets, in particular forming together with piezoelectric elements 37 a stack of alternate piezoelectric elements 37 and conductive metal sheets.
- the respective temperature sensor 36 may be configured to measure the temperature of the respective piezoelectric elements 37 .
- each sealing device 20 in particular the respective vibration control unit 25 , may comprise one or more generators (not shown and known as such) operatively connected to piezoelectric transducer (s) 35 , in particular piezoelectric elements 37 , so as to actuate and control the ultrasonic vibrations of piezoelectric transducer (s) 35 .
- each piezoelectric transducer device 35 may comprise at least one metal connector 38 , in particular connected to one respective conductive metal sheet, designed to establish an electrical connection with at least one generator.
- each vibration control unit 25 comprises one or more electrical cables 39 , each one connected to at least one generator and to at least one metal connector 38 so as to establish the electrical connection between the generator and metal connector 38 .
- each temperature sensor 36 is in contact with the respective metal connector 38 of the respective piezoelectric transducer device 35 (so as to establish contact with the respective piezoelectric transducer device 35 ).
- each metal connector 38 may comprise, in particular consist of, copper.
- copper has very good thermal properties, this guarantees to ensure that the temperature determined by the respective temperature sensor 36 corresponds to the one of the respective piezoelectric transducer device 35 , in particular the respective piezoelectric elements 37 .
- packaging machine 1 in particular package forming apparatus 12 , may comprise at least one analysis unit 40 operatively coupled to temperature sensors 36 and configured to monitor and/or determine the operating state of piezoelectric transducer devices 35 in dependence of the temperature determined by temperature sensors 36 .
- each sealing device 20 comprises a respective portion of analysis unit 40 being operatively connected to the respective temperature sensor (s) 36 so as to measure the temperature of the respective piezoelectric transducer devices 35 , in particular the respective portion of analysis unit 40 being configured to monitor and/or determine the operating state of piezoelectric transducer devices 35 in dependence of the temperature determined by temperature sensors 36 .
- analysis unit 40 and/or the portions of analysis unit 40 may be configured to plan maintenance activities based on the operating state (s) of piezoelectric transducer devices 35 .
- analysis unit 40 and/or the portions of analysis unit 40 may be configured to plan the maintenance activities as a function of the remaining life-time and/or the aging of piezoelectric transducer devices 35 . In this way, it is possible to optimize the use of piezoelectric transducer devices 35 .
- each analysis unit 40 and/or the portions of analysis unit 40 may signal the remaining lifetime of a piezoelectric transducer device 35 and signal that the maintenance should be executed within a certain time regime.
- analysis unit 40 and/or the portions of analysis unit 40 may be configured to assess the possible occurrence of an anomalous working condition based on the temperature (s) measured by temperature sensor (s) 36 . Additionally, analysis unit 40 and/or the portions of analysis unit 40 may be configured to alert about the risk of an anomalous working condition, e.g. by means of a prompt on a human-machine interface (of packaging machine 1 ) and/or an acoustic message and/or an electronic message of similar.
- each vibration control unit 25 may further comprise at least a housing shell 41 (shown in FIG. 3 ; the transparent representation is for illustrative reasons) having an inner space 42 .
- housing shell 41 is in contact with the respective sonotrode head 23 so as to seal inner space 42 from an outer space.
- each piezoelectric transducer device 35 and each temperature sensor 36 are arranged within the respective inner space 42 .
- the respective generator (s) may be arranged within the respective inner space 42 .
- each vibration control unit 25 may comprise a coupling portion 43 contacting the respective sonotrode head 23 along a respective contact surface.
- each piezoelectric transducer device 35 may be placed within a respective seat 44 (see in particular FIG. 3 ) of the respective coupling portion 43 and in contact with coupling portion 43 so as to allow for the transmission of the generated ultrasonic vibrations into the respective sonotrode head 23 .
- packaging machine 1 produces packages 2 filled with the pourable product.
- conveying device 7 advances web 3 along web advancement path P to forming station 8 .
- Tube forming and sealing device 10 forms tube 4 from the advancing web 3 and longitudinal seals tube 4 .
- filling device 11 fills tube 4 with the pourable product and package forming unit 12 forms, transversally seals and transversally cuts tube 4 so as to obtain packages 2 .
- forming and sealing assemblies 19 form, transversally seal, and in particular also transversally cut tube 4 for obtaining respective filled packages 2 .
- the forming occurs by means of the respective forming shell, in particular the cooperation of the respective first half-shell and the second half-shell with one another.
- transversal sealing occurs by means of the respective sealing device 20 .
- transversal cutting occurs by means of the respective cutting device.
- operation of each sealing device 20 comprises at least the following main steps:
- operation of each sealing device 20 further comprises the steps of:
- each piezoelectric transducer device 35 may be measured by the respective temperature sensor 36 and during the step c) the operating state of each piezoelectric transducer device 35 may be determined in dependence of the respective temperature determined during the respective step b).
- step b) and step c) may be continuously executed.
- each sealing device 20 may further comprise a step of transferring, during which the measurement results of the temperature sensors 36 may be transferred to analysis unit 40 and/or the respective portions of analysis unit 40 .
- step c) the remaining life time and/or the aging of piezoelectric transducer (s) 35 may be estimated.
- each sealing device 20 may further comprise d) a step of planning, during which a maintenance is planned based on the operating state of the one or more piezoelectric transducer (s) 35 .
- the maintenance can be planned based on the effective remaining life-time and/or aging of piezoelectric transducer (s) 35 .
- each sealing device 20 may also comprise a step of alerting, during which the risk of an anomalous working condition may be signaled, e.g. by means of a prompt on a human-machine interface and/or an acoustic message and/or an electronic message of similar.
- sealing device 20 and/or of packaging machine 1 and/or the method according to the present invention will be clear from the foregoing description.
- temperature sensor (s) 36 it is possible to measure the temperature of piezoelectric transducer devices 35 and to monitor and/or determine the operating state of piezoelectric transducer devices 35 in dependence of the measured temperature. In this way, it is possible to monitor on whether piezoelectric transducer devices 35 operate in a correct manner and/or to determine the remaining lifetime and/or the aging of piezoelectric transducers. This again allows to base the decision on whether or not to executed maintenance activities based on the actual aging of piezoelectric transducer devices 35 and not according to a predetermined schedule. This also ensures avoiding undesired failures and unnecessary maintenance activities.
- a further advantage resides in the possibility to obtain real-time data about the operational states of piezoelectric transducer devices 35 allowing to act quickly, thereby, further mitigating the risk of operating anomalies putatively impeding a correct operation of sealing devices 20 .
- Another advantage is to connect temperature sensors 36 onto respective metal connectors 38 , which are already used for connecting piezoelectric transducer devices 35 , in particular piezoelectric elements 37 , by means of the respective electric cables to the respective 39 generator (s). In this way, one optimizes the space requirements.
- a further advantage resides in using thermistors as temperature sensors 36 . This are relatively cheap and easy to be installed. As well, their accuracy is sufficient for the specific application.
- One or more embodiments may thus relate to a sealing device 20 for sealing packages 2 filled with a pourable product within a packaging machine 1 , a portion of which is depicted in FIG. 5 .
- a sealing device 20 for sealing packages 2 filled with a pourable product within a packaging machine 1 a portion of which is depicted in FIG. 5 .
- the sealing device 20 has at least one sonotrode 21 comprising at least the sonotrode head 23 and the vibration control unit 25 connected to the sonotrode head 23 and configured to actuate ultrasonic vibrations of the sonotrode head 23 .
- the vibration control unit 25 may comprise:
- the temperature sensor 36 may be configured to measure the temperature at the first extremity 39 b of an electrical cable 39 that is indicative of the temperature of a respective piezoelectric transducer device 35 .
- the temperature at the first extremity of the electrical cable 39 closest to the piezoelectric transducer device 35 is extremely similar to that of the piezoelectric transducer device 35 and, as such, it is possible to obtain an accurate measure of the temperature of the piezoelectric transducer device 35 .
- the embodiment depicted in FIG. 5 might be advantageous insofar as it can be particularly robust in view of the vibrations of the piezoelectric transducer devices 35 .
- the one or more temperature sensors 36 may be positioned at the first extremity 39 b of the respective one or more electrical cables 39 .
- Each electrical cable 39 may comprise electrical wires and a protective sheath 39 a surrounding the electrical wires.
- the one or more temperature sensors 36 may be positioned, e.g. at the first extremity 39 b , between the protective sheath 39 a and the electrical wires of the respective one or more electrical cables 39 .
- the one or more temperature sensors 36 may be completely or partially covered by the protective sheath 39 a of the respective one or more electrical cables 39 .
- the temperature sensor 36 may be pressed onto and/or kept in contact with the electrical wires by means of the sheath 39 a .
- the electrical cable (s) 360 providing power to the temperature sensors 36 may be similarly positioned between the protective sheath 39 a and the electrical wires of the respective one or more electrical cables 39 , e.g. being completely or partially covered by the protective sheath 39 a.
- each electrical cable 39 may be connected to at least one generator and, at the first extremity 39 b , to at least one metal connector 38 of the piezoelectric transducer devices 35 so as to establish the electrical connection between the generator and metal connector 38 .
- the temperature sensor 36 may be configured to measure the temperature at the first extremity 39 b , such temperature being indicative of the temperature at the piezoelectric transducer device 35 and at the metal connector 38 . This way, in alternative to measuring the temperature of the metal connector 38 , it is possible to measure the temperature at the first extremity of the electrical cable 39 and still obtain a reliable, robust and accurate measure of the temperature of the piezoelectric transducer device 35 .
- the temperature measure obtained by the temperature sensor 36 at the first extremity 39 b of the electrical cable 39 may be thus indicative of the temperature of the respective one or more piezoelectric transducer device 35 .
- the analysis unit 40 may be configured to:
- each piezoelectric transducer device 35 has a respective electrical cable 39 that brings power thereto.
- each temperature sensor 26 may be positioned at the extremity 39 b of the respective electrical cable 39 . That is, each temperature sensor 36 is associated (e.g. in contact or in close proximity) with a single electrical cable 39 and a single piezoelectric transducer device 35 .
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Thermal Sciences (AREA)
- Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
- Composite Materials (AREA)
- Package Closures (AREA)
- Lining Or Joining Of Plastics Or The Like (AREA)
- Apparatuses For Generation Of Mechanical Vibrations (AREA)
Abstract
There is described a sealing device for sealing packages filled with a pourable product within a packaging machine. The sealing device has at least one sonotrode comprising at least a sonotrode head and a vibration control unit connected to the sonotrode head and configured to actuate ultrasonic vibrations of the sonotrode head. The vibration control unit comprises one or more piezoelectric transducer devices configured to generate ultrasonic vibrations to be coupled into the sonotrode head and one or more temperature sensors configured to measure the temperature of the one or more piezoelectric transducer devices for determining and/or monitoring respective operating states of the one or more piezoelectric transducer devices.
Description
- The present invention relates to a sealing device for the sealing, in particular the transversal sealing, of packages, in particular composite packages, within a packaging machine for the packaging of pourable products, in particular pourable food products.
- Advantageously, the present invention also relates to a packaging machine for the packaging of pourable products, in particular pourable food products, into packages, in particular composite packages, and having at least one sealing device for the sealing of packages.
- Furthermore, the present invention also relates to a method of operating a sealing device within a packaging machine for the packaging of pourable products, in particular pourable food products, into packages, in particular composite packages.
- As is known, many liquid or pourable food products, such as fruit juice, UHT (ultra-high-temperature treated) milk, wine, tomato sauce, etc., are sold in packages, in particular sealed packages, made of sterilized packaging material.
- A typical example is the parallelepiped-shaped package for pourable food products known as Tetra Brik Aseptic (registered trademark), which is made by sealing and folding a laminated strip packaging material. The packaging material has a multilayer structure comprising a carton and/or paper base layer, covered on both sides with layers of heat-seal plastic material, e.g. polyethylene. In the case of aseptic packages for long-storage products, the packaging material also comprises a layer of oxygen-barrier material, e.g. an aluminum foil, which is superimposed on a layer of heat-seal plastic material, and is in turn covered with another layer of heat-seal plastic material forming the inner face of the package eventually contacting the food product.
- Packages of this sort are normally produced on fully automatic packaging machines, which, in use, advance a web of packaging material through a sterilization unit of the packaging machine for sterilizing the web of packaging material. Then, the sterilized web of packaging material is maintained and advanced within an isolation chamber, and is folded and sealed longitudinally to form a tube, which is further advanced. Furthermore, the tube is filled with a pourable product, and is transversally sealed and cut along equally spaced transversal cross sections within a package forming apparatus of the packaging machine during the tube's advancement.
- In more detail, the package forming apparatus comprises a plurality of forming and sealing assemblies, each one, in use, shaping and transversally sealing and cutting the tube so as to obtain the single packages.
- Each forming and sealing assembly comprises a respective sealing device for transversally sealing the tube for obtaining a respective transversal seal portion by locally compressing the tube and heating the respective portions of the layers of heat-seal plastic material. The heating may e.g. occur by sealing devices generating ultrasonic vibrations.
- The sealing devices which heat by means of ultrasound vibrations comprise a sonotrode configured to generate the ultrasonic vibrations and an anvil, which is designed to cooperate with the sonotrode so as to locally compress the tube.
- A typical sonotrode comprises a sonotrode head having a sealing surface extending along a longitudinal axis and a vibration control unit connected to the sonotrode head and configured to actuate ultrasonic vibrations of the sonotrode head.
- In more detail, the vibration control unit comprises a housing shell and one or more piezoelectric transducers arranged within the housing shell and configured to generate ultrasonic vibrations to be coupled into the sonotrode head.
- It is known that piezoelectric transducers have a limited lifetime as being subjected to an aging and, thus, the sonotrode as a whole or at least the piezoelectric transducers must be exchanged according to pre-established maintenance protocols.
- Even though the known sealing devices operate with a high quality and reliability a desire is felt in the sector to further improve the known sealing devices.
- In particular, a desire is felt to operate with the respective sonotrodes as long as possible and to avoid any unwanted failures.
- It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide in a straightforward and low-cost manner an improved sealing device.
- It is a further object of the present invention to provide in a straightforward and low-cost manner a packaging machine having an improved sealing device.
- Additionally, it is an object of the present invention to provide in a straightforward and low-cost manner an improved method of operating a sealing device.
- According to the present invention, there is provided a sealing device according to the independent claim 1.
- Preferred embodiments of the sealing device are claimed in the claims being directly or indirectly dependent on claim 1.
- According to the present invention, there is also provided a packaging machine according to claim 11.
- Additionally, according to the present invention, there is also provided a method according to
claim 12. - Preferred embodiments of the method are claimed in the claims being directly or indirectly dependent on
claim 12. - A non-limiting embodiment of the present invention will be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
-
FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a packaging machine having at least one sealing device according to the present invention, with parts removed for clarity; -
FIG. 2 is a schematic view of a detail of the packaging machine ofFIG. 1 comprising portions of the sealing device according to the present invention, with parts removed for clarity; -
FIG. 3 is a side view of a portion of the sealing device ofFIG. 2 , with parts removed for clarity; -
FIG. 4 is an enlarged perspective view of the portion ofFIG. 3 , with parts removed for clarity; and -
FIG. 5 is a side view of a portion of the sealing device ofFIG. 2 according to one or more embodiments, with parts removed for clarity. 15 - Number 1 indicates as a whole a packaging machine for producing sealed
packages 2 of a pourable product, in particular a pourable food product, such as (pasteurized) milk, fruit juice, wine, tomato sauce, salt, sugar etc. - In more detail, packaging machine 1 may be configured to produce
composite packages 2 from a composite multilayer packaging material. - In further detail, the packaging material may comprise at least one layer of fibrous material, such as e.g. a paper or cardboard, and at least two layers of heat-seal plastic material, e.g. polyethylene, interposing the layer of fibrous material in between one another. One of these two layers of heat-seal plastic material defining the inner face of
main body 2 contacting the pourable product. - Moreover, the packaging material may also comprise a layer of gas- and light-barrier material, e.g. aluminum foil or ethylene vinyl alcohol (EVOH) film, in particular being arranged between one of the layers of the heat-seal plastic material and the layer of fibrous material. Preferentially, the packaging material may also comprise a further layer of heat-seal plastic material being interposed between the layer of gas- and light-barrier material and the layer of fibrous material.
- In further detail, the packaging material may be provided in the form of a web 3.
- Furthermore, packaging machine 1 may be configured to produce
packages 2 by forming atube 4 from web 3, longitudinally sealingtube 4,filling tube 4 with the pourable product and to transversally seal and cuttube 4. - A
typical package 2 obtained by packaging machine 1 comprises a longitudinal seam portion 5 and a pair of a respective first transversal sealing band and a respective second transversal sealing band, in particular arranged at opposite sides ofpackage 2. In particular, the first transversal sealing band may define a transversal top sealing band and the second transversal sealing band may define a transversal bottom sealing band. - With particular reference to
FIG. 1 , packaging machine 1 may comprise: -
- a conveying device 7 for advancing (in a known manner) web 3 along a web advancement path P to a forming station 8, at which, in use, web 3 is formed into
tube 4; - an isolation chamber 9 having an inner environment, in particular an inner sterile environment containing a sterile gas, and being separated from an (hostile) outer environment;
- a tube forming and sealing device 10 configured to form
tube 4 from the, in use, advancing web 3 within the inner environment and to longitudinallyseal tube 4 within the inner environment; - a filling device 11 for continuously filling
tube 4 with the pourable product; and - a
package forming apparatus 12 configured to form, to transversally seal and to transversally cut the, in use, advancingtube 4 for formingpackages 2.
- a conveying device 7 for advancing (in a known manner) web 3 along a web advancement path P to a forming station 8, at which, in use, web 3 is formed into
- Moreover, packaging machine 1 may also comprise a sterilizing unit configured to sterilize the, in use, advancing web 3 at a sterilization station, in particular the sterilization station being arranged upstream of forming station 8 along web advancement path P.
- In more detail, conveying device 7 may be configured to advance
tube 4 and any intermediates oftube 4 along a tube advancement path Q, in particular from forming station 9 to package formingunit 16. In particular, under intermediates oftube 4 any configuration of web 3 is meant prior to obtaining the tube structure and after folding of web 3 by tube forming and sealing device 10 has started. In other words, the intermediates oftube 4 are a result of the gradual folding of web 3 so as to obtaintube 4, in particular by overlapping the edges of web 3 with one another. - Preferentially, tube forming and sealing device 10 may be arranged such that
tube 4 may present a vertical orientation. - In more detail, tube forming and sealing device 10 may comprise at least two forming
ring assemblies 16, in particular arranged within isolation chamber 9, being configured to gradually fold in cooperation with one another web 3 intotube 4, in particular by overlapping the edges of web 3 with one another. Thereby, in use, seam portion 5 of tube 3 is formed. - Additionally, tube forming and sealing device 10 may comprise a sealing head 17, in particular arranged within isolation chamber 9 and, configured to longitudinally
seal tube 4, in particular along seam portion 5. - Moreover, tube forming and sealing device 10 may also comprise a pressuring assembly configured to exert a mechanical force on seam portion 5 so as to ensure sealing of
tube 4 along seam portion 5. - Additionally, filling device 11 may comprise a
filling pipe 18 being configured to direct, in use, the pourable product intotube 4. In particular, fillingpipe 18 may, in use, be at least partially placed withintube 4 for feeding, in use, the pourable product intotube 4. - With particular reference to
FIGS. 1 and 2 ,package forming apparatus 12 may comprise: -
- a plurality of forming and sealing assemblies 19 (only partially shown to the extent necessary for the comprehension of the present invention in
FIG. 2 ), each one configured to at least form (shape)tube 4, to transversally sealtube 4, and in particular to also transversally cuttube 4; and - a conveying unit (not shown and known as such) so as to advance forming and sealing
assemblies 19.
- a plurality of forming and sealing assemblies 19 (only partially shown to the extent necessary for the comprehension of the present invention in
- In particular,
package forming apparatus 12 is configured to control forming and sealingassemblies 19 and the conveying unit such to transversally seal and cuttube 4 along equally spaced transversal cross sections. - In more detail, each forming and sealing
assembly 19 may comprise: -
- a forming shell (not shown and known as such) configured to at least partially define the shape of
packages 2; and - a
sealing device 20 configured to at least transversally compress, in particular flat-lay and squeeze, and to transversallyseal tube 4, in particular during advancement of tube along path Q and between tworespective packages 2.
- a forming shell (not shown and known as such) configured to at least partially define the shape of
- Moreover, each forming and sealing
assembly 19 may comprise a cutting device (not shown) for transversally cuttingtube 4. - In particular, each sealing
device 20 is configured to form a main sealing band and the respective cutting device is configured to transversally cut through the main sealing band. Even more particular, each main sealing band combines the respective first transversal sealing band of aleading package 2 and the respective second transversal sealing band of thesuccessive package 2. - In further detail, each forming shell may comprise at least a first half-shell (not shown and known as such) and a second half-shell (not shown and known as such) configured to at least partially define in cooperation the shape of
packages 2. In particular, the first half-shell and the second half-shell are configured to contacttube 4 from opposite sides thereof. - In more detail, each sealing
device 20 is of the ultrasonic type; i.e. sealingdevice 20 is configured to generate ultrasonic vibrations suited to heat portions of the layers of heat-seal plastic material. - Moreover, each sealing
device 20 may comprise at least: -
- a
sonotrode 21 for generating ultrasonic vibrations, in particular for heating/melting the respective portions of the layers of heat-seal plastic material; and - an
anvil 22 for compressing, in particular for locally flat-lying and squeezing, in cooperation withsonotrode 21tube 4.
- a
- In further detail, each cutting device comprises at least one moveable blade so as to transversally cut
tube 4. - Furthermore, each
sonotrode 21 is associated to one respective first half-shell, in particular defining a first operative portion of the respective forming and sealingassembly 19, and eachanvil 22 is associated to one respective second half-shell, in particular defining a second operative portion of the respective forming and sealingassembly 19. - Additionally, the respective blade of the respective cutting device is associated to the
respective sonotrode 21 or to therespective anvil 22, in the specific case therespective anvil 22. In other words, each cutting device is either associated to the respective first operative portion or the respective second operative portion, in the specific case shown to the respective second operative portion. - Furthermore, the conveying unit may be configured to advance the respective first operative portions along a first path and the respective second operative portions along a second path.
- Moreover, each first operative portion and the respective second operative portion may be configured to cooperate with one another for forming a
package 2 when advancing along a respective operative section of the first path and the second path, respectively. - With particular reference to
FIGS. 3 and 4 , eachsonotrode 21 comprises at least: -
- a sonotrode
head 23, in particular having a sealingsurface 24 extending along a longitudinal axis A; and - a
vibration control unit 25 connected to sonotrodehead 23 and configured to actuate ultrasonic vibrations of sonotrodehead 23.
- a sonotrode
- In more detail, each sealing
surface 24 may be designed to contacttube 4 and to establish an operative connection with the portions of the layers of heat-seal plastic material. - Furthermore, each sealing
surface 24 may comprise a first portion 26 and asecond portion 27 displaced from and being parallel to one another. - Moreover, each sonotrode
head 23 may comprise agroove 28, in particular interposed between the respective first portion 26 and the respectivesecond portion 27. In particular, eachgroove 28 is designed to receive a portion of the respective blade during the transversal cutting oftube 4. - With particular reference to
FIGS. 2 to 4 , eachvibration control unit 25 may comprise one or more piezoelectric transducer devices 35 (shown inFIGS. 3 and 4 ) configured to generate the ultrasonic vibrations to be coupled into the respective sonotrodehead 23. In the specific case shown,vibration control unit 25 comprises threepiezoelectric transducer devices 35, however, the number may vary in dependence of the format ofpackages 2; i.e. in dependence of the format ofpackages 2, the extension of sealingsurface 24 may be larger or shorter; in particular ashorter sealing surface 24 may require lesspiezoelectric transducer devices 35 than a larger one. - Additionally, each
vibration control unit 25 may comprise one ormore temperature sensors 36 configured to (directly or indirectly) measure the temperature of piezoelectric transducer (s) 35 for determining and/or controlling respective operating states of piezoelectric transducer (s) 35. - In particular, the Applicant has observed that the temperature of each
piezoelectric transducer device 35 is indicative about operating characteristics of thepiezoelectric transducer device 35 and/or about the aging of thepiezoelectric transducer device 35 and/or about the remaining lifetime of thepiezoelectric transducer device 35. E.g. the Applicant has found that eachpiezoelectric transducer device 35 degrades with time as a result of its operation leading to an increase of heat dissipation during use. - Preferentially, temperature sensor (s) 36 is/are configured to continuously and/or in real time measure the temperature of piezoelectric transducer (s) 35. In particular, so as to continuously and/or in real time determine and/or monitor the operational states of piezoelectric transducer (s) 35.
- According to the specific example shown, at least one
temperature sensor 36 is associated to eachpiezoelectric transducer device 35 so as to measure the respective temperature and so as to allow for the determination and/or monitoring of the operational state(s) of the respectivepiezoelectric transducer device 35. - According to some possible embodiments, each
temperature sensor 36 is connected to the respectivepiezoelectric transducer device 35 so as to (directly) measure the respective temperature. - Alternatively, each
temperature sensor 36 could determine the respective temperature in non-contact mode. - According to some possible alternative embodiments, it may also be possible, to determine the temperature of piezoelectric transducer (s) 35 by means of an average temperature of the respective
piezoelectric transducer devices 35 of therespective sealing device 20. - In further detail, each
temperature sensor 35 may be a thermistor; i.e. the temperature determined bytemperature sensor 35 results from a variation of the resistance oftemperature sensor 36. - In even further detail, each
temperature sensor 35 may be a negative temperature coefficient (NTC) thermistor (i.e. the resistance decreases with increasing temperature) or a positive temperature coefficient (PTC) thermistor (i.e. the resistance increases with increasing temperature). - It should be noted that such types of
temperature sensors 35 have a preciseness lying by about +/−0,5° C. Thus, such a preciseness is limited with respect to other types of temperature sensors. The Applicant has, however, found that the preciseness offered by thermistors, in particular NTC thermistors and PTC thermistors, is sufficient SO as to determine and/or monitor the operational states ofpiezoelectric transducer devices 35. Thus, by relying on thermistors, in particular NTC thermistors and PTC thermistors, it is possible to obtain a more economical solution with respect to other types of temperature sensors, which are more costly, but still reliably determining the operational states ofpiezoelectric transducer devices 35. - With particular reference to
FIG. 4 , eachpiezoelectric transducer device 35 may comprise a plurality of piezoelectric (ceramic)elements 37 stacked one on top of one another. In more detail, eachpiezoelectric transducer device 35 may also comprise a plurality of conductive metal sheets, in particular forming together with piezoelectric elements 37 a stack of alternatepiezoelectric elements 37 and conductive metal sheets. Preferentially, therespective temperature sensor 36 may be configured to measure the temperature of the respectivepiezoelectric elements 37. - Additionally, each sealing
device 20, in particular the respectivevibration control unit 25, may comprise one or more generators (not shown and known as such) operatively connected to piezoelectric transducer (s) 35, in particularpiezoelectric elements 37, so as to actuate and control the ultrasonic vibrations of piezoelectric transducer (s) 35. - Furthermore, each
piezoelectric transducer device 35 may comprise at least onemetal connector 38, in particular connected to one respective conductive metal sheet, designed to establish an electrical connection with at least one generator. In particular, eachvibration control unit 25 comprises one or moreelectrical cables 39, each one connected to at least one generator and to at least onemetal connector 38 so as to establish the electrical connection between the generator andmetal connector 38. - Advantageously, each
temperature sensor 36 is in contact with therespective metal connector 38 of the respective piezoelectric transducer device 35 (so as to establish contact with the respective piezoelectric transducer device 35). - Preferentially, each
metal connector 38 may comprise, in particular consist of, copper. As copper has very good thermal properties, this guarantees to ensure that the temperature determined by therespective temperature sensor 36 corresponds to the one of the respectivepiezoelectric transducer device 35, in particular the respectivepiezoelectric elements 37. - According to some possible non-limiting embodiments, packaging machine 1, in particular
package forming apparatus 12, may comprise at least oneanalysis unit 40 operatively coupled totemperature sensors 36 and configured to monitor and/or determine the operating state ofpiezoelectric transducer devices 35 in dependence of the temperature determined bytemperature sensors 36. - According to some possible non-limiting embodiments, each sealing
device 20 comprises a respective portion ofanalysis unit 40 being operatively connected to the respective temperature sensor (s) 36 so as to measure the temperature of the respectivepiezoelectric transducer devices 35, in particular the respective portion ofanalysis unit 40 being configured to monitor and/or determine the operating state ofpiezoelectric transducer devices 35 in dependence of the temperature determined bytemperature sensors 36. - Furthermore,
analysis unit 40 and/or the portions ofanalysis unit 40 may be configured to plan maintenance activities based on the operating state (s) ofpiezoelectric transducer devices 35. In particular,analysis unit 40 and/or the portions ofanalysis unit 40 may be configured to plan the maintenance activities as a function of the remaining life-time and/or the aging ofpiezoelectric transducer devices 35. In this way, it is possible to optimize the use ofpiezoelectric transducer devices 35. - E.g. each
analysis unit 40 and/or the portions ofanalysis unit 40 may signal the remaining lifetime of apiezoelectric transducer device 35 and signal that the maintenance should be executed within a certain time regime. - Furthermore,
analysis unit 40 and/or the portions ofanalysis unit 40 may be configured to assess the possible occurrence of an anomalous working condition based on the temperature (s) measured by temperature sensor (s) 36. Additionally,analysis unit 40 and/or the portions ofanalysis unit 40 may be configured to alert about the risk of an anomalous working condition, e.g. by means of a prompt on a human-machine interface (of packaging machine 1) and/or an acoustic message and/or an electronic message of similar. - Additionally, each
vibration control unit 25 may further comprise at least a housing shell 41 (shown inFIG. 3 ; the transparent representation is for illustrative reasons) having aninner space 42. In particular,housing shell 41 is in contact with the respective sonotrodehead 23 so as to sealinner space 42 from an outer space. - Preferentially, each
piezoelectric transducer device 35 and eachtemperature sensor 36 are arranged within the respectiveinner space 42. In particular, also the respective generator (s) may be arranged within the respectiveinner space 42. - Moreover, each
vibration control unit 25 may comprise acoupling portion 43 contacting the respective sonotrodehead 23 along a respective contact surface. Additionally, eachpiezoelectric transducer device 35 may be placed within a respective seat 44 (see in particularFIG. 3 ) of therespective coupling portion 43 and in contact withcoupling portion 43 so as to allow for the transmission of the generated ultrasonic vibrations into the respective sonotrodehead 23. - In use, packaging machine 1 produces
packages 2 filled with the pourable product. - In more detail, conveying device 7 advances web 3 along web advancement path P to forming station 8. Tube forming and sealing device 10
forms tube 4 from the advancing web 3 andlongitudinal seals tube 4. - Additionally, filling device 11 fills
tube 4 with the pourable product andpackage forming unit 12 forms, transversally seals andtransversally cuts tube 4 so as to obtainpackages 2. - In further detail, during operation of
package forming unit 12, forming and sealingassemblies 19 form, transversally seal, and in particular also transversally cuttube 4 for obtaining respective filled packages 2. - Thereby, the forming occurs by means of the respective forming shell, in particular the cooperation of the respective first half-shell and the second half-shell with one another.
- Additionally, the transversal sealing occurs by means of the
respective sealing device 20. - Moreover, the transversal cutting occurs by means of the respective cutting device.
- In more detail, operation of each sealing
device 20 comprises at least the following main steps: -
- compressing, in particular flat-lying and squeezing,
tube 4 by cooperation of therespective anvil 22 and therespective sonotrode 21; and - generating ultrasonic vibrations by means of
sonotrode 21 for heating portions of the layers of heat-seal plastic material.
- compressing, in particular flat-lying and squeezing,
- In even more detail, operation of each sealing
device 20 further comprises the steps of: -
- a) exciting ultrasonic vibrations of the respective sonotrode
head 23 by means of operation ofvibration control unit 25 the respective piezoelectric transducer (s) 35; - b) measuring the temperature of the respective piezoelectric transducer (s) 35; and
- c) determining, in particular by means of
analysis unit 40 and/or the respective portions ofanalysis unit 40, an operating state of the respective piezoelectric transducer (s) 35 based on the temperature obtained in step b).
- a) exciting ultrasonic vibrations of the respective sonotrode
- In more detail, during each step b), the temperature of each
piezoelectric transducer device 35 may be measured by therespective temperature sensor 36 and during the step c) the operating state of eachpiezoelectric transducer device 35 may be determined in dependence of the respective temperature determined during the respective step b). - Preferentially, step b) and step c) may be continuously executed.
- Furthermore, operation of each sealing
device 20 may further comprise a step of transferring, during which the measurement results of thetemperature sensors 36 may be transferred toanalysis unit 40 and/or the respective portions ofanalysis unit 40. - In further detail, during step c) the remaining life time and/or the aging of piezoelectric transducer (s) 35 may be estimated.
- Additionally, operation of each sealing
device 20 may further comprise d) a step of planning, during which a maintenance is planned based on the operating state of the one or more piezoelectric transducer (s) 35. In particular, in this way, the maintenance can be planned based on the effective remaining life-time and/or aging of piezoelectric transducer (s) 35. - Moreover, operation of each sealing
device 20 may also comprise a step of alerting, during which the risk of an anomalous working condition may be signaled, e.g. by means of a prompt on a human-machine interface and/or an acoustic message and/or an electronic message of similar. - The advantages of sealing
device 20 and/or of packaging machine 1 and/or the method according to the present invention will be clear from the foregoing description. - In particular, by providing for temperature sensor (s) 36 it is possible to measure the temperature of
piezoelectric transducer devices 35 and to monitor and/or determine the operating state ofpiezoelectric transducer devices 35 in dependence of the measured temperature. In this way, it is possible to monitor on whetherpiezoelectric transducer devices 35 operate in a correct manner and/or to determine the remaining lifetime and/or the aging of piezoelectric transducers. This again allows to base the decision on whether or not to executed maintenance activities based on the actual aging ofpiezoelectric transducer devices 35 and not according to a predetermined schedule. This also ensures avoiding undesired failures and unnecessary maintenance activities. - A further advantage resides in the possibility to obtain real-time data about the operational states of
piezoelectric transducer devices 35 allowing to act quickly, thereby, further mitigating the risk of operating anomalies putatively impeding a correct operation of sealingdevices 20. - Another advantage is to connect
temperature sensors 36 ontorespective metal connectors 38, which are already used for connectingpiezoelectric transducer devices 35, in particularpiezoelectric elements 37, by means of the respective electric cables to the respective 39 generator (s). In this way, one optimizes the space requirements. - A further advantage resides in using thermistors as
temperature sensors 36. This are relatively cheap and easy to be installed. As well, their accuracy is sufficient for the specific application. - Clearly, changes may be made to sealing
devices 20 and/or packaging machine 1 and/or the method as described herein without, however, departing from the scope of protection as defined in the accompanying claims. - One or more embodiments may thus relate to a
sealing device 20 for sealingpackages 2 filled with a pourable product within a packaging machine 1, a portion of which is depicted inFIG. 5 . It will be appreciated that the reference numbers used with reference toFIG. 5 , where corresponding to reference numbers used previously with reference to the remaining figures, have the same meaning and refer to the same features. - The sealing
device 20 has at least onesonotrode 21 comprising at least the sonotrodehead 23 and thevibration control unit 25 connected to the sonotrodehead 23 and configured to actuate ultrasonic vibrations of the sonotrodehead 23. - As depicted in
FIG. 5 , thevibration control unit 25 may comprise: -
- one or more
piezoelectric transducer devices 35 configured to generate ultrasonic vibrations to be coupled into the sonotrodehead 23; - one or more
electrical cables 39 configured to power (e.g. provide electrical connection and power to) respective one or morepiezoelectric transducer devices 35, the one or moreelectrical cables 39 being connected to the respective one or morepiezoelectric transducer devices 35 via afirst extremity 39 b; and - one or
more temperature sensors 36 configured to measure (e.g. directly or indirectly) the temperature of the one or morepiezoelectric transducer devices 35 for determining and/or monitoring respective operating states of the one or morepiezoelectric transducer devices 35, by measuring the temperature at thefirst extremity 39 b of the one or moreelectrical cables 39.
- one or more
- In other words, the
temperature sensor 36 may be configured to measure the temperature at thefirst extremity 39 b of anelectrical cable 39 that is indicative of the temperature of a respectivepiezoelectric transducer device 35. This way, it is possible to obtain a reliable, accurate and robust measure of the temperature of thepiezoelectric transducer device 35 without the need of a direct contact therewith. In particular, the temperature at the first extremity of theelectrical cable 39 closest to thepiezoelectric transducer device 35 is extremely similar to that of thepiezoelectric transducer device 35 and, as such, it is possible to obtain an accurate measure of the temperature of thepiezoelectric transducer device 35. The embodiment depicted inFIG. 5 might be advantageous insofar as it can be particularly robust in view of the vibrations of thepiezoelectric transducer devices 35. - The one or
more temperature sensors 36 may be positioned at thefirst extremity 39 b of the respective one or moreelectrical cables 39. - Each
electrical cable 39 may comprise electrical wires and aprotective sheath 39 a surrounding the electrical wires. As depicted inFIG. 5 , the one ormore temperature sensors 36 may be positioned, e.g. at thefirst extremity 39 b, between theprotective sheath 39 a and the electrical wires of the respective one or moreelectrical cables 39. - For example, the one or
more temperature sensors 36 may be completely or partially covered by theprotective sheath 39 a of the respective one or moreelectrical cables 39. For example, thetemperature sensor 36 may be pressed onto and/or kept in contact with the electrical wires by means of thesheath 39 a. For example, the electrical cable (s) 360 providing power to thetemperature sensors 36 may be similarly positioned between theprotective sheath 39 a and the electrical wires of the respective one or moreelectrical cables 39, e.g. being completely or partially covered by theprotective sheath 39 a. - In more detail, each
electrical cable 39 may be connected to at least one generator and, at thefirst extremity 39 b, to at least onemetal connector 38 of thepiezoelectric transducer devices 35 so as to establish the electrical connection between the generator andmetal connector 38. Thetemperature sensor 36 may be configured to measure the temperature at thefirst extremity 39 b, such temperature being indicative of the temperature at thepiezoelectric transducer device 35 and at themetal connector 38. This way, in alternative to measuring the temperature of themetal connector 38, it is possible to measure the temperature at the first extremity of theelectrical cable 39 and still obtain a reliable, robust and accurate measure of the temperature of thepiezoelectric transducer device 35. - The temperature measure obtained by the
temperature sensor 36 at thefirst extremity 39 b of theelectrical cable 39 may be thus indicative of the temperature of the respective one or morepiezoelectric transducer device 35. Theanalysis unit 40 may be configured to: -
- receive the one or more temperatures measured at the
first extremity 39 b of the one or moreelectrical cables 39, and - calculate the temperature of the one or more
piezoelectric transducer devices 35 as a function of the one or more temperature measured and preferably a corrective factor, e.g. a linear corrective factor.
- receive the one or more temperatures measured at the
- For the avoidance of any doubt, each
piezoelectric transducer device 35 has a respectiveelectrical cable 39 that brings power thereto. Also, each temperature sensor 26 may be positioned at theextremity 39 b of the respectiveelectrical cable 39. That is, eachtemperature sensor 36 is associated (e.g. in contact or in close proximity) with a singleelectrical cable 39 and a singlepiezoelectric transducer device 35.
Claims (18)
1. Sealing device for sealing packages filled with a pourable product within a packaging machine;
the sealing device having at least one sonotrode comprising at least:
a sonotrode head; and
a vibration control unit connected to the sonotrode head and configured to actuate ultrasonic vibrations of the sonotrode head;
wherein the vibration control unit comprises:
one or more piezoelectric transducer devices configured to generate ultrasonic vibrations to be coupled into the sonotrode head; and
one or more temperature sensors configured to measure the temperature of the one or more piezoelectric transducer devices for determining and/or monitoring respective operating states of the one or more piezoelectric transducer devices.
2. Sealing device according to claim 1 , wherein the one or more temperature sensors are operatively coupled and/or coupleable to an analysis unit configured to monitor and/or determine the operating state of the one or more piezoelectric transducer devices in dependence of the temperature measured by the one or more temperature sensors.
3. Sealing device according to claim 1 , wherein at least one temperature sensor is associated to each piezoelectric transducer device so as to measure the temperature of the respective piezoelectric transducer device for determining and/or monitoring the operational state of the respective piezoelectric transducer device.
4. Sealing device according to claim 3 , wherein each temperature sensor is in contact with the respective piezoelectric transducer device.
5. Sealing device according to claim 3 , wherein each piezoelectric transducer device comprises a metal connector designed to establish an electrical connection with a generator of the sealing device;
wherein each temperature sensor is in contact with the metal connector of the respective piezoelectric transducer device.
6. Sealing device according to claim 5 , wherein the metal connector comprises copper.
7. Sealing device according to claim 1 , wherein:
the vibration control unit comprises one or more electrical cables configured to power the respective one or more piezoelectric transducer devices, the one or more electrical cables being connected to the respective one or more piezoelectric transducer devices via a first extremity of the electrical cables, and
the one or more temperature sensors are configured to measure the temperature of the one or more piezoelectric transducer devices by measuring the temperature at the first extremity of the one or more electrical cables.
8. Sealing device according to claim 7 , wherein the one or more temperature sensors are positioned at the first extremity of the respective one or more electric cables.
9. Sealing device according to claim 7 , wherein each electrical cable comprises electrical wires and a protective sheath surrounding the electrical wires, and wherein the one or more temperature sensors are positioned between the protective sheath and the electrical wires of the respective one or more electrical cables.
10. Sealing device according to claim 1 , wherein each temperature sensor is a thermistor.
11. Sealing device according to claim 10 , wherein each temperature sensor is a negative temperature coefficient thermistor or a positive temperature coefficient thermistor.
12. Sealing device according to claim 1 , wherein the vibration control unit-furthermore comprises at least a housing shell having an inner space;
wherein each piezoelectric transducer device and each temperature sensor are arranged within the inner space.
13. Sealing device according to claim 1 , wherein an operating state of the one or more piezoelectric transducer devices is the respective life time and/or the respective aging and/or operating characteristics of the one or more piezoelectric transducer devices.
14. Packaging machine for the packaging of pourable products into packages comprising at least one sealing device according to claim 1 .
15. Method of operating a sealing device according to claim 1 , the method comprising at least the steps of:
a) exciting ultrasonic vibrations of the sonotrode head by operation of the one or more piezoelectric transducer devices;
b) measuring the temperature of the one or more piezoelectric transducer devices; and
c) determining an operating state of the one or more piezoelectric transducer devices based on the temperature obtained in step b).
16. Method according to claim 15 , wherein during the step b), the temperature of each piezoelectric transducer device is measured by a respective temperature sensor and during the step c) the operating state of each piezoelectric transducer device is determined in dependence of the respective temperature determined during the step b).
17. Method according to claim 15 , wherein during the step c) the remaining life time and/or the aging of the one or more piezoelectric transducer devices is estimated.
18. Method according to claim 15 , further comprising d) a step of planning, during which a maintenance is planned based on the operating state of the one or more piezoelectric transducer devices.
Applications Claiming Priority (3)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
EP21167121 | 2021-04-07 | ||
EP21167121.9 | 2021-04-07 | ||
PCT/EP2022/058964 WO2022214465A1 (en) | 2021-04-07 | 2022-04-05 | Sealing device for a packaging machine, packaging machine having a sealing device and method of operating a sealing device |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
US20240199260A1 true US20240199260A1 (en) | 2024-06-20 |
Family
ID=75426424
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US18/553,665 Pending US20240199260A1 (en) | 2021-04-07 | 2022-04-05 | Sealing device for a packaging machine, packaging machine having a sealing device and method of operating a sealing device |
Country Status (5)
Country | Link |
---|---|
US (1) | US20240199260A1 (en) |
EP (1) | EP4070935A1 (en) |
JP (1) | JP2024514521A (en) |
CN (1) | CN116723927A (en) |
WO (1) | WO2022214465A1 (en) |
Family Cites Families (1)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US8858742B2 (en) * | 2012-11-16 | 2014-10-14 | GM Global Technology Operations LLC | Automatic monitoring of vibration welding equipment |
-
2022
- 2022-04-05 US US18/553,665 patent/US20240199260A1/en active Pending
- 2022-04-05 WO PCT/EP2022/058964 patent/WO2022214465A1/en active Application Filing
- 2022-04-05 JP JP2023560866A patent/JP2024514521A/en active Pending
- 2022-04-05 EP EP22166637.3A patent/EP4070935A1/en active Pending
- 2022-04-05 CN CN202280010562.7A patent/CN116723927A/en active Pending
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
WO2022214465A1 (en) | 2022-10-13 |
JP2024514521A (en) | 2024-04-02 |
CN116723927A (en) | 2023-09-08 |
EP4070935A1 (en) | 2022-10-12 |
Similar Documents
Publication | Publication Date | Title |
---|---|---|
US10773846B2 (en) | Anvil for transversally sealing a tube of packaging material and sealing jaw having an anvil | |
JP3984078B2 (en) | Ultrasonic transverse sealing device for sealing walls of packaging material filled with fluid food | |
KR101563072B1 (en) | Sealed package body, and method and apparatus for producing same | |
CN102802920B (en) | Supersonic generator | |
EP1666362B1 (en) | Packaging-filling device and packaging material cutting device | |
US10189207B2 (en) | Sonotrode | |
US20110030315A1 (en) | Sealing jaw for producing sealed packages of a food product | |
JP4093775B2 (en) | Ultrasonic transverse sealing device for sealing walls of packaging materials filled with fluid food | |
US20240199260A1 (en) | Sealing device for a packaging machine, packaging machine having a sealing device and method of operating a sealing device | |
MX2010011365A (en) | Sealing jaw for producing sealed packages of a food product. | |
JPWO2005035368A1 (en) | Packaging filling device and horizontal sealing device | |
EP4183559A1 (en) | Sealing device for a packaging machine, packaging machine having a sealing device and method of operating a sealing device | |
JP6099450B2 (en) | Filling and packaging machine provided with means for determining spout welding | |
EP4357256A1 (en) | Package forming apparatus for a packaging machine and packaging machine for forming packages filled with a pourable product | |
EP4386096A1 (en) | Multilayer rod, sealing unit, package forming apparatus, packaging machine, method for manufacturing a multilater rod and method for manufacturing an induction sealing device | |
EP4039600A1 (en) | Packaging apparatus, method for producing sealed packages and use of a tdr sensor device in a packaging apparatus | |
JP4574290B2 (en) | Package manufacturing apparatus and package manufacturing method | |
EP4261018A1 (en) | A transversal sealing system and a method for transversally sealing a tube of packaging material | |
CN116323157A (en) | Pressure element and sealing device for a packaging assembly having a pressure element | |
BR112020001482B1 (en) | ANVILO, AND, SEALING CLAW. | |
JP2017218170A (en) | Bag making, filling, and packaging machine | |
JP2009067459A (en) | Packaging and filling device | |
JP2009161209A (en) | Packaging/filling apparatus and packaging/filling method |
Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
---|---|---|---|
AS | Assignment |
Owner name: TETRA LAVAL HOLDINGS & FINANCE S.A., SWITZERLAND Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:SOCI, FABIO;REEL/FRAME:065094/0513 Effective date: 20230713 |
|
STPP | Information on status: patent application and granting procedure in general |
Free format text: DOCKETED NEW CASE - READY FOR EXAMINATION |